I live in a neighborhood whose original houses were built 75 years ago.
These homes are modest single-story bungalows on 6,500 square meter lots. However, as in many Los Angeles neighborhoods, such homes are slowly being removed. Two-story houses are being built in their place. From the second floor you can look into your neighbor's backyard. One such remodel took place several years ago on a property next to mine. The new neighbors were having a house party, and from their second floor, although a little away from our property line, I had a perfect view of my backyard. However, the new neighbors have planted a privacy hedge along the sequoia fence between us.
Unfortunately, this hedge was planted just two feet from our fence and the plant chosen was the Indian Bay Fig (Ficus microcarpa), the most popular tall hedge in Southern California, growing to 40 feet or more. While it has grown up quickly and is now blocking my second floor neighbor's view of my back yard, it will soon be bumping into our fence, causing it to crack here and there.
If the Indian laurel fig is planted as a hedge or as a privacy screen, it should be at least 3 meters away from fences or walls. Even if the wooden fence did not break under the pressure of the ficus branches pressing against it, the aggressive roots of this plant would eventually break the concrete foundation of the fence posts. On the bright side, you don't have to worry about having to replace the fence – a redwood fence lasts about 15 years – because once the existing fence collapses, the ficus hedge will serve excellently as a living fence for the next 100 years. We're also lucky that it can't be taller than 20 feet, as that's the height of overhead electrical wires; The hedge must be trimmed regularly by the energy supplier to maintain the distance. If left to grow unchecked, it would steal much of the daytime sun from my backyard garden.
Across our state, living fences made from California native plants are the best option for privacy protection along property lines. They last for decades and, once established, rarely – if ever – need watering. Unlike Ficus species and various other traditional hedge plants, whose green face is the only gift they have to give, native plant hedges can produce colorful flowers, aromatic leaves or edible fruits, and almost all of them attract wildlife, particularly native bees, butterflies and birds.
At buckwheatbringsbutterflies.com, a website of the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, Dan Songster gathered the thoughts of some native plant experts on the topic of privacy hedging. The species most recommended for this role was the lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia). Although it can reach a height of 10 feet with the same or greater girth, the lemonade berry can be kept at half that size with occasional pruning. Some people have a dermatitis reaction to contact with lemonade berry juice – it is a relative of poison ivy and poison oak – so you should wear gloves when pruning to be on the safe side.
The lemonade berry has wavy, leathery, sea-green foliage and dense clusters of pink and white flowers that develop into tart fruits. The fruit should not be eaten whole but can be chewed or sucked to extract the juice. The pulp should then be discarded. Soaking the fruit in cold water also produces a tart and refreshing drink. In fact, all parts of the plant are edible and/or medicinal, as evidenced by the many Native American tribes that used them for a variety of purposes. The only limitation is to experiment with this plant in small quantities for its edible and healing properties as some people develop allergic reactions to it. Because it can be pruned without affecting subsequent growth, lemonadeberry is the most common plant in California when it comes to use as a formal hedge.
The second most recommended home hedge plant, based on the discussion above, is mountain mahogany with birch leaves (Cercocarpus betuloides). It has mahogany-colored bark and evergreen foliage shaped like birch leaves. Its growth is more upright and less sprawling than that of the lemonade berry. Its sweet-smelling white to yellow flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds and its foliage also smells spicy. Cercocarpus means “fruit with a tail” and refers to its characteristic fruit, a tubular achene to which a long and curved pinnate style (female flower part) is attached. Mountain mahogany can grow up to 30 feet tall, but can be kept shorter by pruning.
Toyon or Christmasberry (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is also praised as a hedge because it blooms in large numbers in spring with white flowers and has red berries from now until winter. The problem here is its susceptibility to disease, which causes the plant to decay and die quickly, making it unlikely to live as long as other native hedges. The Catalina cherry (Prunus ilicifolia lyonii) presents a majestic display of white caterpillar flowers followed by dark red fruits. The fruit is edible, although not everyone finds it sweet and the flesh is poor, as each fruit consists largely of one large seed. The fruit is very attractive to birds but will discolor the concrete if dropped. Therefore, keep the plants away from patios and sidewalks. Catalina cherry trees are self-sterile. This means you need to plant at least two of them to bear fruit.
The Nevin barberry (Berberis/Mahonia nevinii) also scores highly as a hedge plant, especially since it can serve as a security fence due to its prickly, impenetrable foliage. Nevin's barberry grows 10 feet tall and wide and is covered in yellow flowers in spring, which are followed by clusters of red, bird-friendly fruit. Nevin's barberry is endemic to Southern California and critically endangered. Of the 21 remaining populations, almost all have fewer than 20 individual plants, some even fewer than five. By planting it as a hedge or even as a single specimen, you are helping to secure its future. This plant is extremely difficult to find in the nursery trade, but is available at Las Pilots Nursery (laspilitas.com). The nursery is located near San Luis Obispo but also delivers to Southern California.
Speaking of yellow flowers, you should also consider the island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), a moderately endangered species. It grows up to 20 feet tall and wide, but can be maintained at a lower height through pruning. The foliage is delicate blue-green to blue-gray depending on the light and the flowers are bright yellow.
Californian of the Week: When it comes to fragrant flowers on a native hedge, one plant stands out: the wild mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii). With white flowers 5 cm in diameter, it can grow up to 3 m high and is suitable as a hedge, but with the caveat that it is deciduous and therefore remains leafless in winter. The flowers appear in clusters and cover the plant. Its scent has been compared to orange blossom with a hint of pineapple. You need to keep the soil slightly moist. Of course, you can also grow it individually, as its fountain-like growth is an attractive ornament when planted alone.
If you would like to recommend a native plant for a hedge, let us know. Send description to Joshua@perfectplants.com. Your gardening problems and successes as well as questions and comments are always welcome.